Are thyroid extracts safe? what are the side effects?

Safe: Hi. Thyroid extracts are safe (extracted from pig thyroids from slaughterhouse). They don't have the purity of levothyroxine, and they have some batch-to-batch variability, but they work, and they were all we had, we'd all be using them. Do I recommend them? No. some patients want dead animal thyroid extracts, so I'll do what makes the patient happy as long as I do no harm. Good luck!

Avoid thyroid: extracts. If your thyroid level is deficient, the only appropriate therapy is BRAND NAME T4 replacement until your levels have been returned to normal. Thyroid extract (prescription) is ground up animal material and should be avoided.